Automobile cigarette lighter



Feb. 8, 1955 s. PAVENICK AUTOMOBILE CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Aug. 20,1952 it. 1. G6

IN V EN TOR. STANFORD PAVENICK ATTORNEY United States Patent AUTOMOBILECIGARETTE LIGHTER Stanford Pavenick, South Orange, N. J.

Application August 20, 1952, Serial No. 305,368

3 Claims. (Cl. 219-32) This invention relates to an automobile cigarettelighter, being particularly concerned with a lighter that is adapted tobe inserted in a standard plug-in lighter socket, such for example as isusually provided in the dashboard of an automobile. More specificallythe invention pertains to a lighter of the character described whichwill inspirate air through a cigarette during lighting so as to makecertain that sufficient oxygen is supplied to the cigarette for it tolight and stay lit until taken up by the smoker.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighter of thecharacter described in which the inspirating mechanism is extremelysimple and has no parts that move during lighting.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lighter ofthe character described which comprises relatively few parts and isinexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lighter ofthe character described which is rugged and foolproof.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the device hereinafter described and of which the scopeof application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view through a cigarettelighter constructed in accordance with the present invention, the samebeing illustrated in idle position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating theparts of the lighter in operation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a reduced bottom view of the lighter.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10denotes a cigarette lighter embodying the present invention and of thetype which is adapted to be plugged into a standard automobile dashboardoutlet for a conventional pull-out cigarette lighter.

The lighter 10 comprises a box-like housing 12 which for convenience isfabricated in two halvesan upper half 14 and a lower half 16. Thelighter also includes a substantially vertical cigarette chimney 18.

The two halves of the housing are mutually interfitted so as to insure adefinite cooperate relationship. For example, the lower half is providedwith a rectangular in'- ner peripheral flange 20 that forms a shoulder22 against which the lower edge of the upper half fits. This preventsany relative rotation of the two halves. Suitable means is employed tohold the two halves together; for example, a pair of screws 24 the headsof which are received in depressions 26 and the shanks of which extendthrough clear openings 28 in the lower half and are threaded in tappedopenings 30 in the upper half may be used.

A standard dashboard lighter socket is provided with two terminals, acentral terminal and a side terminal, the latter usually being in theshape of a ferrule. To engage these two terminals the cigarette lighter10 includes a central contact 32 and a side contact 34. The centralcontact comprises an electrically conductive disk 2,701,836 PatentedFeb. 8, 1955 ted over a finger 40 formed by both halves of the housingand extending away from a lighting chamber 42. The finger will beconsidered to be the rear of the lighter. The bottom half of the housingincludes a lug 44 which projects into the finger and receives anelectrically con- 36 the edge of which is spun over at 38. Said disk isfitductive screw 46 that extends through a central opening 48 in thedisk contact 36. Said screw is threaded into an opening 50 in anelectrically conductive flat strip 52 that runs from the lightingchamber 42 into the finger 40.

It will be apparent that tightening of the screw 46 serves both to holdthe disk in place and to fix the strip 52. Said strip includes adownwardly extending reach 54 which terminates in a horizontal reach 56running along the bottom of the housing and having an opening 58 throughwhich a post 60 fits. Said post is formed integrally with the bottomhalf of the housing and serves to anchor the front end of the strip 52,i. e. the end remote from the finger. Said strip is maintained on thepost by a washer 62 that is frictionally forced on the post over thestrip.

The contact 34 comprises an upwardly bowed section of a resilientelectrically conductive strip 64. Said strip extends through an opening66 into the hollow interior of the finger 40 where it is held in placeby a downwardly projecting post 68, the strip being apertured to permitthe post to pass through the same. A washer 70 is frictionally forced onto the post under the strip 64 and serves thereby to hold the strip inplace.

Pursuant to the instant invention the cigarette lighter includes aresistance heating element 72 in the usual form of a coil of resistancewire. Optionally said wire may be wound about a refractory mandrel 74.The opposite ends of the wire are connected to eyelets 76 supported inmetallic brackets 78 which if a mandrel 74 is employed also may be usedto support the same. The brackets extend vertically and each has ahorizontal flange 80 adjacent its upper end. Said flanges are seated ona disk 82 of insulating material, the brackets extending through acentral aperture 84 in the disk. The heating coil 72 is located in linewith the central opening of the disk and may be disposed either above orbelow the same, the latter form being preferred and illustrated. Anysuitable means such for instance as eyelets 86, are utilized to securethe brackets to said disk.

In accordance with a feature of the invention the disk 82 is carried bythe resilient strip 64. Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that thisstrip protrudes from the finger 40 into the center of the hollowlighting chamber 42 so that the strip serves as a resilient cantileversupport for the disk 82 which is mounted on the strip in some suitablemanner as for instance by an eyelet 88. It thus will be appreciated thatthe disk 82 is capable of substantial vertical translation, i. c. it canbe pressed downwardly with ease against the restoring force of thespring 64 which biases the disk upwardly.

The chimney 18 includes an erect cylindrical sleeve 89 which is axiallyslidable in a journal 90 constituting an integral part of the upper half14. For safety the lower end of the journal may be reenforced withasbestos packing 91.

Each bracket 78 includes a spacer 92 integral with its flange 80. Saidspacers include upwardly extending reaches 94 terminating in outwardlyextending flanges 96. Said flanges 96 are beneath a circular outwardlyextending flange 98 at the bottom of the chimney sleeve 89. The bore inthe chimney sleeve is aligned with the central aperture of the disk andthus with the resistance coil.

One end of the resistance coil is permanently connected to the strip 64by means of a wire 100 running from the eyelet 88 to one eyelet 76, thelatter being connected to one end of the coil. The spacer of the bracketin which the aforesaid one eyelet 76 is disposed is made of electricallynon-conductive material for a reason to be pointed out hereinafter. Theother spacer is electrically conductive, and its bracket is connected byits eyelet 76 to the other end of the heating coil.

A bimetallic latch 102 is mounted on the post 60. Said latch is inelectrical contact with the strip 52 and includes a horizontal reach 104integral with a perpendicular upstanding reach 106. The latter reachextends almost to the sleeve 98 when the chimney is in idle position.The top of reach 106 is formed into a hook 108 which faces the disk 82and slants diagonally downwardly and rearwardly. Said hook is in thepath of travel of the flange 98 which strikes it when the chimney ispushed downwardly from the idle position of Fig. 1. On heating. thelatch flexes forwardly.

Pursuant to a maior feature of the present invention, slots 110 areprovided in the base of the bottom half of the housing.

The lighter is operated as follows: a cigarette is inserted into thechimney. the lower end of the cigarette resting on the heating coil. Thechimney is then manually pushed downwardly so that flange 98 willdepress the disk 82. When the chimney is depressed far enough, flange 98will strike hook 108 of the bimetallic latch thereby completing theelectrical circuit. As the chimney is depressed further. the hook isforced forwardly by flange 98 until said hook is passed by the flan e 98and snaps into place above the same thereby holding the chimneydepressed against the restoring bias of the disk which is disposed onresilient strip 64 (see Fig. 2). Stop 112 on sleeve 89 above the housingserves to prevent depression of the chimney beyond the distancenecessary for flange 98 to pass hook 108.

When the circuit is completed by abutment of hook 108 and flange 98, thecoil becomes red hot and lights the ci arette. The hot air rises drawinfresh air through the slots 110 at the bottom of the li hter forcing airthrou h the cigarette so that it stays lit.

The completed circuit is as follows: current runs from the centralcontact 32 along strip 52 through element 102 to flange 98, through theelectrically conductive s acer. thr u h the mil. to the strip 64 by wayof wire 100, and thence to the side contact 34. It is apparent thatunless the spacer contacting the bracket connected to the end of thecoil which is connected to strip 64 is insulated, there would be a shortcircuit since current would pass from flange 98 throu h that spacer andover to the strip 64 without passing through the coil.

The bimetallic strip from which the latch is made is so designed thatwithin a short time after the coil lights the cigarette the latch willhave flexed away from the flange 98 far enough to release the flan ewhereupon the chimney is snapped upwardly by the disk and strip 64. Theelectrical circuit is broken as soon as the hook is out of contact withthe flange 98. As the element cools it returns to its original positionbeneath the flange 98, and the lighter is ready to be operated again.

As soon as the chimney snaps up, the smoker will know the cigarette islit.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a device which achieves allthe ob ects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the conditionsof practical use.

As various possible embodiments mi ht be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein described, or shown in theaccompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An automobile cigarette lighter comprising a housing having a contactfinger and a hollow lighting chamber, said finger having a centralcontact and a side contact, a heating element disposed in said lightingchamber, said heating element having two terminals, verticallytranslatable mounting means for said element, means biasing the elementu wardly, flexible means permanently connecting one terminal of saidelement to one of the contacts, a vertically translatable uprightchimney iournalled in the top of said housing above the heating chamber,chimney contact means on the bottom of the chimney, said chimney beingaligned with said heating element, whereby the end of a cigarettedisposed in the chimney will gravitate to abut the heating element, asecond contact means movable with the heating element and connected tothe other terminal thereof, said second contact means being in line withthe chimney contact means, connecting means in line with the chimneycontact means, said connecting means being connected to the othercontact, whereby when the chimney is depressed the chimney contact meansand connecting means abut and the chimney contact means and the secondcontact means abut completing the circuit in the lighter and activatingthe heating element, said connecting means including a latch holding thechimney in depressed position and releasing the same when a cigarette islit.

2. An automobile cigarette lighter comprising a housing having a contactfinger and a hollow lighting chamber, said finger having a centralcontact and a side contact, a heating element disposed in said lightingchamber, said heating element having two terminals, verticallytranslatable mounting means for said element, means biasing the elementupwardly, flexible means permanently connecting one terminal of saidelement to one of the contacts, a vertically translatable uprightchimney journalled in the top of said housing above the heating chamber,chimney contact means on the bottom of the chimney, said chimney beingaligned with said heating element, whereby the end of a cigarettedisposed in the chimney will gravitate to abut the heating element, asecond contact means movable with the heating element and connected tothe other terminal thereof, said second contact means being in line withthe chimney contact means, connecting means in line with the chimneycontact means, said connecting means being connected to the othercontact, whereby when the chimney is depressed the chimney contact meansand connecting means abut and the chimney contact means and the secondcontact means abut completing the circuit in the lighter and activatingthe heating element, said connecting means including a latch holding thechimney in depressed position and releasing the same when a cigarette islit, the base of the lighting chamber having slots for admission ofambient air into said chamber.

3. An automobile cigarette lighter comprising a housing having a contactfinger and a hollow lighting chamber, said finger having a centralcontact and a side contact, a heating element disposed in said lightingchamber, said heating element having two terminals, verticallytranslatable mounting means for said element, said mounting meansconstituting a spring biasing the element upwardly and permanentlyconnecting one terminal of said element to one of the contacts, avertically translatable upright chimney journalled in the top of saidhousing above the heating chamber, an electrically conductive circularflange on the bottom of the chimney, said chimney being aligned withsaid heating element, whereby the end of a cigarette disposed in thechimney will gravitate to abut the heating el ment. electricallvconductive spacing means movable with the heating element and connectedto the other terminal thereof. said spacing means being in line with theflange, a bimetallic electrically conductive latch in line with theflange, said latch being connected to the other contact and detainingthe chimney in depressed position and releasing the same when acigarette is lit, whereby when the chimney is depressed the flange andlatch abut and the flan e and spacing means abut completing the circuitin the li hter and activating the heating element, the base of the lihting chamber having slots for admission of ambient air into saidchamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,959,093 Davis May 15, 1934 2,010,675 Lewis Aug. 6, 1935 2,052,016Davis Aug. 25, 1936 2,381,726 Davis Aug. 7, 1945 2,467,473 Gray Apr. 19,1949 2,528,500 Davis Nov. 7, 1950 2,557,225 Hutchinson June 19, 1951

